Fledglings fly into December to party hard.

[HillsBesideTheSea]

Morning.

Tomorrow is December 1st which means roll call for the fledglings and shiny new thread. It might seem a bit clicky but it is because it is a long term thread, park your arse in the naughty corner for moral support, natter and various delicious goodies. Oh and smidge of housework too.

We follow the flylady system HOWEVER we adapt it to suit the circumstances of our lifes and sometimes we ignore the slightly more fluffy/bonkers babysteps --because we can and there ain't no one the boss of us

Re: stuff no longer working, I think part of the reason I’m so frustrated is that stuff barely worked even before the baby! I have never been organised and realising last minute that we don’t have xyz is par for the course here. So I am annoyed as if things were better to start with then we would at least have a better baseline to work from. That may not be true though and maybe it would have gone to shit either way. At least I haven’t forgotten the actual baby anywhere yet so it could be worse right?!

DD does have 3 dance bags (she does ballet tap and ballroom so shoes for each), just those cheapie drawstring things, DS has a bag for his dobok too, and we even have a hook by the door they go on. But either she forgot to hang them up and they are now somewhere in the house, or they fell off the buggy on our way home after the previous lesson. I was going to get her new shoes soon anyway so not a major disaster (these ones were a lucky bargain from a charity shop anyway and didn’t fit all that well).

We have agreed we must get into a routine of checking this stuff as soon as we get in, I was thinking of doing stuff like tidying the buggy basket/bag as well, the whole flylady after school/work routine I suppose. I’m also wondering about changing how we organise their club stuff (there is a lot between the two of them, they are HE so it’s one of the ways we structure their time and exercise/socialise). I’m thinking drawers with their stuff in and they can just pack their own backpack every night, again very flylady style. That worked when it was only a couple of clubs but those drawers are now full of totally disorganised HE stuff. I’m not going to implement anything now though as hopefully we will be moving in the next six months anyway and we may be lucky enough to have a hallway in which an ikea unit or something for all their club stuff, our shoes, keys, post etc could be placed. That’s the dream! So I’ll wait till then and hope that checking as we come home will be enough for now.

I am so tired but can’t sleep. DH sent me to bed regardless as baby is fed. Still crying from wind though bless her. We have SO much to do today, Caglets are desperate to put the tree up and they know it’s not happening until the room is tidy. I am not feeling at all festive now but I’m determined not to let them know that.

Best of luck to your DD bower!

Positives from yesterday, as I really need to look on the bright side!

Cagletini (7 weeks today!) is now 10lb1oz so creeping up the centiles nicely. Postnatal check all fine, and I remembered to book her first jabs. Eek.

DS read to her which was just adorable and really smashed any remaining worries about him not being so keen on babies! The way he was before the birth I honestly thought he’d still be hiding from her at this point.

It was watching week at tap and I’m very proud of DD, she’s learnt loads and DS is happy to try it next year too.

I managed to do the sling properly the way friend showed me. This is another thing I actually spent money on, I did have some hand me downs but none were comfy or easy so I bought a lovely one that is just perfect and I am so glad I have this rather than struggling with something not right. Us mums are worth it, it’s hard to remember that sometimes I think.

I finally found the other book we were reading to DD (we finished A Little Princess the other day but had an illustrated kids version of the odyssey), DD impressed me with her Greek mythology knowledge. They’d also been quizzing each other on history on the bus, I love how nerdy they are! Contrary to expectation it’s been getting easier to read to them since baby arrived, as I can just do it while feeding her, so we all end up on the sofa, it’s really lovely even if it means a later bedtime. Hoping to finish both their books by Christmas and then start a new one, although DS being a creature of routine will probably insist on the other three awful Avengers books first, yawn!

I think I’m just going to get up as I can’t sleep and I’m hungry! DH is off all day anyway so maybe I’ll disappear for a nap later.

Have just seen online about measles outbreaks and now fretting about ds. Early symptoms seem to be a cold and temperature etc which he has. Also he hasnt had his 1 year injections which has the mmr cause everytime i book it he is unwell! So now keep checking him for a rash

Not sure if this will help you relax a bit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity Afresh but if you are worried perhaps a ring to a medical person (not sure if that would be Hv/nurse or someone else these days)

Ds was lucky and did not catch measles despite not getting his MMR until he was nearly 4yrs (height of all the drama and no one would advise on egg based vaccine vs child with egg allergy, once they did he had iyswim) Rates of measles were not as high as they are today but I am sure ds was helped by herd immunity. Also as it is a reportable disease there should be specific numbers of cases in your area if you feel the need to research the life out of it.

Sorry can't be of more help. It is a worry.

Afresh, my DD had a measles type illness at 18 months despite the mmr. It's something like 95% effective and I lived in a low take up area.

IIRC the rash appeared very soon after the first symptoms. We called the surgery, they got a room to take her into away from everyone else and we drove straight there. There was not a lot that we could do, fluids, as many painkillers as possible and constant watching to see if she deteriorated. She could barely move, she just lay there. It was very distressing, and she has never been as ill again.

The doctor's were great, and supported us well, but only once the rash had appeared, and they knew what they were dealing with.

What was stressed to us is how unlucky we were. We lived in a hot spot where herd immunity wasn't as strong as it should have been, but even so it was incredibly unusual. We had to send a swab to the HPA. I am trying to reassure you with this story, rather than make things worse, and I am not sure I've done that, but you've had such a tough few weeks. You are doing everything you can, checking him over.

Ty for the reassurance. He started bring unwell 6 days a go now so sounds like the rash may have already developed if it was measles. The herd immunity stuff is interesting. Hes very clingy today but no temperature so far

I think so. The spots coincided with the temperature, it didn't precede it. She was slightly off her food one day and covered in spots the next.

It sounds like a horrible, horrible virus. I took DS to A&E a few months ago with a virus, because I couldn't get him to raise his head. I only went to A&E because the surgery told me to - they were helpful on the phone, and didn't make me feel like I was being over anxious, but they said if he can't raise his head he needs urgent attention. So I went. We weren't booked in properly and by the time it was sorted out a few hours later he had perked up. I was horribly embarrassed, but everyone at A&E was lovely about it, and said they'd rather be cautious when they are so young.

Sorry to hear of your little one afresh.

Still lurking in this thread. House is in reasonable order but cleaning could be more thorough so perusing all the links here. Sink is shining so I've got started!

I should have done what I wanted to do. I have done nothing except fail at the don't let people get to me item

I am seriously considering saying fuck it and going out tbh. I am done. Cancel christmas, send the fucking perfectionists on holiday or something give them some CBT so they get a fucking grip

Hills dare i ask who the perfectionists are?

Ty lisette I never shine my sink.

Ds has just eaten most of his lunch but looks very heavy eyed poor thing. And now its pissing it down and i need to go out!

If they want everything so fucking perfect they can do it themselves surely?

I have done very little myself today other than eat and faff about and cuddle the baby and supervise everyone else tidying.

The bag was found but wasn't at the depot yet when I called, not sure if I will get it today or tomorrow, weather is crap here too.

afresh sounds like your little one has something similar to what mine had last week. Temperature, cold symptoms, no appetite, exhausted. He was miserable so you have my sympathy. It took him a whole week to get over it and was only back to himself yesterday.

Ta das
Daily routine
Packaged up parcel to send back
Bought wrapping paper

To do
Declutter one other room
Wipe switches and handles
Christmas cards and wrapping

Which is where the problem is They are not capable of doing it themselves and the perfectionism is symptomatic of the various conditions the people suffer with/them feeling out of control. I unfortunately happen to live with the people in a partial carer's role (ie they can mostly do stuff but they need keeping on track and conversations are starting to get very circular) It is life but as conditions develop there are stages. It will either improve from here or go down from here. Last night i had a 30min lecture on cooking poached eggs and how the egg white still needed to be clear err nope that be raw and when i finished cooking the poaches eggs was told it was what they wanted (ie running yolk, egg white cooked) just every little thing is an argument because of feeling out of control atm. Ergo sometimes i need to vent atm and am working on the afore mentioned time away from the house.

I might have volunteered for overtime over Christmas

I see what you mean hills :(

I have finally got the baby down - actually DOWN not on me - for a nap and what am I doing to make the most of this time? Why, fuck all of course.

Full sympathies Hills. My late ma, who had very very high housekeeping standards - her house literally gleamed and she decluttered ruthlessly in advance of her death (yes really) to make everything as easy as possible for us offspring - became more and more controlling as she became more frail. Totally understandable and borne out of utter frustration of not being able to do things for herself; but extremely difficult for those trying to help. I remember one occasion when she was standing behind me while I was chopping carrots (which she had washed and peeled) checking that I was doing it properly . Wishing you the patience of a Saint!

Hope you get your bag bk Cag!

Hope it is not measles Afreshstart and that all other littlies who are ailing recover speedily.

Wehey hey re: reaching bottom of washing pile Longtime! (Happens here once a decade )

Hello to Lisette!

Rather damp wing flaps to everyone else! Must go and warm up. Spent half the day chauffeuring DD around - either waiting in the cold car - or shopping in pouring rain. So behind with Christmas prep this year I'm seriously considering sending NY cards instead!

I'm collecting it tomorrow thanks sc :) so relieved. Stayed in today. Achieved nothing myself. Tree is done but need to clear detritus and various other bits. Also I need a bath.

No flying today really. Are we on anti procrastination day? If so, I took some overdue library books back.

I'm really sorry Hills, but the links weren't working again earlier. I feel bad for pointing it out when you've had such a rubbish day. Would you like me to post them tomorrow? If I did it OK last time?

I am actually wondering if there is something going on with behind the scenes coding to prevent spam Callme which would be good for mn but might make links on the thread a bit more of a pita. So am planning to do a bit of investigating tomo evening. If you would be so kind to do the links for tomorrow that would be most excellent. I am in the middle of sorting ds' room and am likely to be collapsing into a heap and then forget. Thank you

Note: ds' room will not be tidy but the furniture has been rejigged/not working pieces removed and laundry and washing up retrieved.

One of the people has had a good day and very helpfully got on with jobs like load the DW, shove a hoover around, empty bins and hoover out the tumbler dryer which is prone to clogging with lint. Without being asked and are the stupid little jobs that take forever to achieve little. Like I said they are mostly capable but important little things like meds and food get forgotten and then it goes to hell in a hand cart

We had rain earlier, then the temperature dropped and ice started to form and now it is snowing. I am beginning to believe the mutterings about a hard winter!

Ahh had big, long post like Cags and then previewed then review creeps on and post disappeared. Dam! Not going to redo. It was quite funny in parts all about my unstressful day ...which was stressful Callme!

Anyway quick version: no house work apart from 2 loads of washing, tipped bird seed everywhere. Chicken enjoyed bed and breakfast...early mash. DD went out with DH for lunch and neither organised stuff yesterday so I ended up ironing for 3hrs and a half to get her stuff ready for interview. She hadn't made a final decision on what to wear and needed black laggings because hers wear more grey than black but we ran out of time and she didn't want me to risk going that way in case we were late as it was through town instead of through country. I think I might have got speeding ticket because I think it is 30 now when it used to be 40 then 30 and there was a bloody van there and I didn't see it parked sideways on. Yellow not Police. Arrrggh!
Anyway she was bit upset cos she miffed a bit of the interview so she doesn't think she has got it. It has cost her about £100 to come up though I bet DH has slipped her the pennies for it and she could only stay two nights because she has a proper job tomorrow. It took her 80-90 minutes longer and turns out she thinks she might have a bit of concussion because the boot of the car hit her head. That might be just to get out of ironing though!😁

Cags what size tap shoes being a bit of a hoarder I might still have DDs? If I have I could post them to you.i think there is some. I know there was ballet shoes but I think she took those as she went to circus school for a while when at uni.I found the 50s style dance bags less likely to lose😁 DD also had the gym the at first but made it a Christmas present and new leotard red😀 it had leggings and a skirt for freestyle dancing very cute.

Hello, sorry (again) to hear people struggling and hope your DD’s head is ok Bower!

I can really sympathise with getting annoyed at your own disorganisation Cag - I frequently get annoyed with lack of organisation .

Have had a long and very unsatisfying day. Really should do some Christmas organising / wrapping, etc but I think I am going to sit in the naughty corner. Possibly with a hot chocolate.

Hills
I wouldn't even know how to do it!

Sorry you are having a rubbish time.🌻🌻🌻for you.

Anti procrastination day...posted my Guide Dog raffle tickets this morning 2nd lot. 😄before the cut off date 22nd Dec well chuffed with myself.

Oooh! Coming to join you. Bringing a drop of brandy to put in hot chocolate.
Get annoyed with myself about disorganisation too. Fairly organised at work( planning could be better) but get lots done but always losing things at home. Lost my red book at the moment. It was on dining table last time I saw it. I should have put it back in table drawer like I was doing. It has my fly lady print out bits and I made a proper journal without all the flowery bits they looks nice but I haven't got time for all that crap. I made a couple of pages of achievable tasks per day now I have lost the bloody book I'm not achieving anything. Never mind break up on Fridayband my house will be beautiful this time next week.

Ha ha! Do you think?

Bower, OMG, what a day!